“Larissa,” he said, and she wanted to close her eyes and listen to him repeat those three syllables on an endless loop. “Why were you attacked by the zombies?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
There wasn’t any disbelief in his voice – none that she could detect, anyway – but there was still something in the spacing of the words that made it clear he didn’t fully believe her. “No, I don’t know. It was probably some random occurrence, though they shouldn’t have been able to get into the city.” Like you was added in her head, but once again, self-preservation kept her from speaking those words aloud.
“It wasn’t a random occurrence.” His voice carried absolute conviction.
“And how would you know?”
Once again that small hesitation before he spoke. “In the past, my Clan has had dealings with necromancers.”
Zombies meant…
Necromancers. The word she been avoiding all night was now spoken, drifting through the air on icy currents. The sound alone had her rubbing her arms for warmth. “Dealings, huh?” she asked, more in avoidance than actual interest. She didn’t want to talk about them, didn’t even want to think about their existence, not while an image of one eyeball hanging out of its socket waited behind her eyelids.
“While I claim no intimate knowledge, I know enough to say the zombies I fought tonight were created by a master necromancer. Masters of that level do not make mistakes.” He crouched before her then, so close she could reach out and stroke his face. “Are you involved with the necromancers?”
“What? No! Gods no, never!” She jumped up from the couch as though she could run away from the words. “Necromancers? They’re… no, just no.”
“Then why did the zombies target you?”
Maybe that was why he brought her here, thinking she was somehow connected with necromancers. “Listen, I don’t deal with anything like that. I’m a history teacher. I work, tutor kids, and the most exciting thing I do is play card games with my dad on the weekend – that’s where I was headed tonight when all this started. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Somehow those things got past the city’s security and went after me.”
She shook her head. It couldn’t be real, zombies attacking her. Her? She was always the good kid. While her brothers had given their dad many grey hairs over the years, she never got into fights or broke curfew or lied about who she was hanging around with. How does someone like that get attacked by zombies? Why would they come after her?
Why would they touch her?
Hold her?
Trap her?
An eye hanging out of its socket…
From far away a long, keening sob.
And Larissa realized…
…the sob came from her.
Her body betrayed her, legs giving out, limbs trembling and twisting and the hard inward jerk of torso to protect her, the curl that would shelter from the outside world, outside pain. Teeth chattered with an echo that resonated through skull, through bone, through marrow.
Weightless. A second of air. A second of vulnerability. A second of alone.
Then warmth seeped into her skin, burrowing into damaged spaces, replacing danger with safety, shame with forgiveness. She was immobile against an immovable surface, but as long as she could bask in that warmth she didn’t fear her imprisonment. The smell of newly cracked stone washed over her, an unknown language sounded, spoken in a deep, resonant tone that promised protection.
The shaking eased, the sobs stuttered and hiccupped their last, and she opened her eyes to find her fingers digging into Terak’s chest, his leathery wings curled around her, holding her close to him.
The hard planes and grey tone to his skin gave the impression of cold, but his body was a furnace, a warm blanket on a winter day. His skin was firm but supple, the texture inviting her to stroke where her fingers lay against him.
She nuzzled deeper into him when awareness of her situation slammed through her. Cloaking herself with the trailing ends of her dignity she straightened and leaned back.
The first attempt to get away from him was unsuccessful, his arms still tight around her. Clearing her throat, she looked up at him, glancing at his wings when his gaze met hers. “Thank you, but I’m fine now. You can let go.”
He followed her gaze, his brows coming together once again. The wings opened and he set her down.
Chapter Five
He had wrapped her in his wings.
Disbelief coursed through Terak’s system as the little human stepped away and went to look over the books.
He had wrapped her in his wings.
Her hair was tangled, its usual smoothness lost to the exertions of the night. She appeared so defenseless at that moment he wanted to cradle her against him again, tell her that nothing like this night would ever touch her in the future.
He had wrapped her in his wings.
She was so soft, so fragile, she could never be a true threat to him. With no threat, there was no consequence to keeping her close. That could be the only reason his wings had come around her. That and no other.
He settled his wings around his shoulders, the softness of her lingering on the membranes.
She glanced at him, a faint tremble still on her lips. Pushing her hair behind her ear, she went to sit back down on the couch.
She is connected to the future of your Clan. Guard her well.
Three months ago the Oracle had come to them unannounced as few beings would dare. She had given little more than that cryptic message. Any questions were ignored, and she left their stronghold unconcerned how her words would be taken.
He was unused to taking orders from anyone, but he could not shake the need to discover why the Oracle had sought him out and placed this human woman into his care.
Larissa Miller was nothing like he expected. She was as ill-suited to his world as any being in existence. Instead of a woman wielding magic or sword, he beheld a woman who was petted and protected by her family. She was uninterested in the world outside of the safe confines of the human-only city. Nothing about her spoke of darkness or subterfuge.
All these months watching her, and before this night he had come to believe the Oracle had made a mistake.
Why had she been attacked? It was not a mistake, no matter what she claimed. He needed to unravel this mystery. Somehow she was connected to his Clan, and until he understood the reason for the Oracle’s intervention he would not separate from her.
Before he could speak her voice rang out. “I need to call my father.”
“Why?”
The line of her mouth turned mulish, her look equal parts confusion and annoyance. “He’s expecting me, and I need to tell him what happened. He’s a cop. He’ll want to investigate.”
That could not happen. If her father interfered, she would be lost to him. “He is human.”
Her arms crossed over her chest. “My father is a good cop, human or not. You shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss his abilities just because he doesn’t have wings.”
She was insulted on behalf of her Clan and would not let him say anything to degrade them. The last of the trembling stopped as her chin went high, and he much preferred the fire that lit her eyes to the trembling that engulfed her earlier.
Diplomacy had never been one of his strengths, but he must tread carefully here. He needed her to accept her family could not protect her but not feel as though he were dismissing their abilities. “It matters not how skilled your father is in solving human matters. These are enemies he has no hope of prevailing against. Has he ever fought a necromancer?”
Her lips tightened, but she answered honest. “No.”
He stopped himself from pursuing the conversation and let her think on those words. He asked, “You truly do not know why the zombies attacked you?”
Defiance crossed her features, and for one moment he thought she would once again ask to talk to her father. Instead she seemed to reconsider, because s
he drew a deep breath and answered instead, “I understand what you are saying about how the necromancers work, but there is some mistake. There is nothing about me that would interest anyone. I’m as ordinary as they come and I know nothing. All I want is to go back to my life.”
She was either the most accomplished liar he had ever encountered or she was telling the truth. He wasn’t sure which of those options he wanted to believe. “Your wants do not change reality. A necromancer is after you. Yes, one is,” he repeated, adding volume in case she tried to voice her denial, but while she did not vocalize her disagreement she did start shaking her head. “You do not know why, but you have caught the attention of a necromancer. This is an enemy you can in no way fight.”
“My dad…”
She would not listen to reason, so bluntness was his only hope of convincing her. “If you involve your father, you will be responsible for his death. Are you prepared to bury him in hopes of proving me wrong?”
All color leeched out of her face, his words penetrating her stubbornness. If anything could change her mind, it would be the protection of her Clan.
She rose from the couch, her movements stiff and jerky. She walked over to the fireplace and stood in front of it, staring down at the flames. The firelight illuminated her hair, creating a glow around her soft face. “What are you suggesting?”
He walked to her until he stood an arm’s distance away, not crowding her, but forcing her to deal with his presence. “Let me and my Clan protect you while we discover why you have been targeted. We can fight this enemy, your father cannot.”
Her head jerked toward him, eyebrows furrowing together and a suspicious cast crossing her features. “Why would you want to do that? Even if you’re right, why do you care I’m being targeted?”
This question he was not prepared for. Of course she would want details. She was naïve and protected, but his little human was not stupid or blindly trusting.
A heavy knock interrupted the moment. Never had he been more grateful for one of the constant interruptions on his time. He opened the door to see Malek. “Yes?”
Malek spoke in low tones. “The Council requires your presence.”
News of the human’s arrival had spread quickly it seemed. He said, “I will be out momentarily,” and shut the door.
Larissa was watching him with undisguised interest. He said, “I find I must go and talk with my Council.”
“Can I go home now?”
“I wish to finish our discussion first. This will only be a few minutes. I will not let it take any longer than that.” He gave a small bow. “Excuse me.”
“Wait.” She held out her hand to him. “My father is expecting me. If I’m not there soon, he’ll start searching for me. I promise I won’t say anything about tonight. I don’t want him to worry.”
It was a reasonable request. “I will have a phone brought so you may contact him.”
With those words, she smiled at him. “Thank you.”
He had seen her smile many times, but never like this, never so close. Worry and tiredness still lined her features, but the smile created a radiance the firelight could never replicate.
Another knock brought Terak back to awareness. “Excuse me,” he repeated and left the room.
Malek was waiting, along with another warrior. “Have a phone waiting for me when I get back,” he told the younger warrior. As he and Malek turned and walked down the corridor to the Council Chamber, he asked Malek, “What news?”
“Word of your guest has spread throughout the Clan and not all are happy she is here. She is the one the Oracle told you of, is she not?”
“Who else would she be?”
The displeasure Terak was feeling must have announced itself in his voice, for Malek lowered his head. “I live and die for you, Mennak. Please do not mistake my observations for censure.”
Malek did not deserve misplaced ire heaped upon him. Terak said, “Forgive me. I find I do not like being summoned like a youngling.”
Malek nodded, accepting the apology. “Your absences these last months have emboldened the Council.”
“They are my councillors, not my wardens.” That they assumed they could summon him with a moment’s notice meant they were bolder than Terak had suspected. That would be put to rights tonight. “Who is fueling tonight’s displeasure?”
“Valry.”
Of course. His future Meyla had hated his watching over the human from the first, had fought against the Clan acting on the Oracle’s prediction. And now she presumed she could openly go against his decisions.
That also needed to be put to rights.
Terak entered the Council Chamber, a large room with a round table and thirteen seats surrounding it. He did not bother to go to his seat. Krikus, the eldest member of the Council, rose and spoke. “Mennak—”
“I have only a few moments, so all here will listen well,” Terak interrupted, projecting his authority and banked anger into the tone. The members quieted in their seats. “You seem to forget who is leader here, though you still call me Mennak. Let me remind you. You do not summon me. You may seek my presence, you may ask for my decision, but never again shall you summon me. Is this understood, or are any here demanding challenge?”
Most lowered their heads and refused to look at Terak. Krikus held his hand up in apology. “We never wish to insult you, Mennak. But this news about the human was so unexpected, we needed to know the situation.”
“You only need know your Mennak has the situation under control. Any explanations will come when I deem them necessary.”
Krikus lowered his head. “If you wish for our counsel, we are always at your service.”
“And I do wish your counsel,” Terak said. His point had been made, now peace had to be restored. He did not want seeds of resentment and suspicion taking root because of this night. “There is a new development with the human. She was attacked by zombies tonight.”
An explosion of sound circled the table as the Council talked among themselves. Terak held up his hand for silence. “I do not yet know what it means, but I do know we cannot leave the human unguarded. We must remain with her.”
“Is she in league with necromancers?”
“No.” Of that Terak was sure. “All of the information we have collected on her both by watching her and by other means, nothing hints at that. They hunt her for an unknown reason, and we must protect her until all these threads are untangled and the reason of her importance is clear.”
Nalith rose. He was new to the Council, joining after the death of his father. While Terak had enjoyed the father’s counsel, Nalith was discord and whispered poison in the shadows of the night. “Mennak,” he began, his tone as far from respectful as it could be while still remaining civil. “This is foolish. We had agreed to three months of guarding the human, long enough to decide how she could be of interest to the Clan. It is clear she has no importance to us. The Oracle’s pronouncement is nothing more than a powerful being bored enough that she wishes to cause mayhem among other races. It is not an unknown situation.”
A couple Council members gave half-nods at Nalith’s words, though none would speak aloud after Terak’s earlier rebuke.
“While I do not disagree about the chaos the gods cause, it matters little in this situation. She was attacked in the agreed-upon time frame, and we will determine if this is what the Oracle alluded to before we leave the human.” Nalith’s jaw clenched and he sat. Terak continued, “We will watch the human. We will meet tomorrow at first light and continue this discussion. Now, I must go. Until the morrow.”
Krikus nodded. “Agreed.” The other Council members nodded, though Terak could not tell those who were displaying their true feelings from those who did not wish to anger him any further.
Terak left and headed back to Larissa. He needed to speak to Valry as well, but that he would leave to later. Larissa had been alone long enough.
The young warrior was holding a phone when Terak approached the
door. He took the phone and entered the room.
Larissa was still by the fire, looking into the flame as though all answers could be found there. She looked up when the door, first focusing on his face, then on the small black phone held in his hand.
He held it out to her and she walked as fast as she could without running to grab the phone from him.
While she dialed the number and said, “Dad,” into the receiver, Terak pondered the schism within his Clan, the one even now Nalith and Valry were working to exploit – between those who wished to have contact with the outside world versus those who wished to remain as they had always been, self-sufficient and without any outside encumbrances save for favors owed them.
Encumbrances this one human woman exemplified.
And as she said, “Yes, Dad, I owe you big. Promise, next time I’m there… Yes, Dad, with a skirt and make-up,” Terak knew how to answer her question and convince her that he should be allowed to stay at her side.
Chapter Six
It hadn’t been this hard to part with a phone since she was fourteen and had been waiting for Jared Thompson to ask her to junior prom, but as Terak held out a massive hand, Larissa placed the shiny black rectangle there without any outward sign of her struggle.
“I was able to convince Dad not to send out a search party by promising to be there for brunch tomorrow,” she said, aware even as the words were leaving her mouth that such a blatant warning would do nothing more than amuse the gargoyle in front of her.
Thankfully he didn’t laugh, though she could swear a ghost of a smile played on his lips. Instead he said, “You will be there, do not worry.”
The reassurance beat back the fear that had begun creeping through her while he was gone. She nodded toward the door. “It must be hard to be in charge, people always needing you for something.”
“It is my duty and my role to fulfill.”
He said that without any boast or pridefulness. It was a statement of fact, his calling made into words. “How are you the leader? Were you elected?”
Stone Guardian (Entwined Realms) Page 4